Getting people to pay attention is undeniably one of marketing and sales’ biggest challenges. People’s attention spans today are simply shorter. Audiences are less patient and they want to be entertained while being educated.
Just like we expect state-of-the-art animation in our movies, we also expect more from sales and marketing collateral. The days of reading text-heavy, boring brochures and websites are over. Today’s generation responds far more favorably to succinct text with graphics than just plain text.
It’s no surprise, then, that infographics have taken center stage in 2017. Studies show that social media content that includes infographics is liked and shared more often than other content.
Why? Because we are visual creatures. We digest and retain more when information is visually illustrated. That explains why Facebook posts with images get 2.3 times more engagement than posts without images, and why Twitter updates with images can generate 150% more re-tweets than plain-text updates, according to research by technology company BuzzSumo.
7 Important Tips
By definition, an infographic provides a means for people to learn about something quickly and easily without having to do a lot of reading. Instead, the message is conveyed visually.
Like any other marketing or sales piece, the key is not just creating it, but in getting it right. Here are seven important steps to follow when creating an infographic:
1. K
eep the message simple
2. Keep the text short
3. Ensure the information carries a consistent narrative
4. Use numbers
5. Choose the right colors, as colors affect purchase decisions
6. Don’t pack in too much information—make sure there is “white space”
7. Give the infographic a compelling headline
As with all marketing and sales materials, don’t be shy about getting help from experts. Even the most mundane statistics can come alive when conveyed with compelling text and good graphics. If you need help, just let me know. I can be reached at Info@StrategicVantage.com. We are happy to be of assistance.
By Rosalie Berg, President, Strategic Vantage